Information and commentary about the struggle for democracy in the African kingdom of Swaziland

Friday, August 6, 2010

SEX SCANDAL: SWAZI MEDIA SILENT

While the world’s media tell the truth about the sex scandal involving the 12th wife of King Mswati III of Swaziland that led to the resignation yesterday(5 August 210) of a Swazi cabinet minister, local media have followed the official state line.

The Times of Swaziland, the kingdom’s only independent newspaper, reports that Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Ndumiso Mamba resigned ‘following certain allegations circulating in the country and internationally’.

It doesn’t say that the story is about the king’s 12th wife, Nothando Dube, (also known as Inkhosikati LaDube)and Mamba being discovered having sex together last week, while the king was on an official visit to Taiwan.

The Times takes the ‘official’ line which is ‘Mamba resigned following certain allegations circulating in the country and internationally’.

The Times goes on, ‘The Prime Minister [Barnabas] Dlamini did not disclose the nature of the allegations, except to say that he had held consultations with the minister as a result of these.

‘The minister then offered to step down from his position, as well as that of senator. He was an appointed senator.

‘In his statement he said, “There are allegations circulating in the country and elsewhere involving the Honourable Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Ndumiso Mamba.

“I have held consultations with Mamba, and he has decided to step down forthwith as minister and Senator in order to allow the matter to be considered by the appropriate fora.”’

‘Mamba was not present during the press briefing which lasted less than five minutes.’

Meanwhile, state radio station SBIS, which is editorially under the controlof Prime Minister Dlamini, took a similar line in its bulletins yesterday evening, relegating the story to second spot after a report that Dlamini himself had hosted a dinner for previous PMs and their wives and praised the wives for having good ideas that influenced their successful men. (This being his contribution to August as international women’s month.)